Parliament Launches Full Inquiry Into Prescott Casino Controversy
The Parliament has ordered a full inquiry Thursday into the nature of the contact between Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and US billionaire Philip Anschutz.
The inquiry is to probe further into the alleged involvement of the deputy prime minister in the dealings regarding the Millennium Dome being turned into a super casino after he spent time in the casino tycoon's Colorado ranch summer of 2005. Anschutz's company Anschutz Entertainment Group or AEG is the bidder for the said project.
Parliament Standards Commissioner Philip Mawer said that that he would be launching a full inquiry over whether Anschutz Colorado trip should have been declared. The commissioner plans to report back by the end of July.
"Following preliminary enquiries, the Commissioner has decided to look at the issues around the hospitality," said a spokeswoman for Commissioner Philip Mawer.
The controversy is ill-timed as Prescott is supposed to be assuming Prime Minister Tony Blair's responsibilities as he prepares to have a vacation towards the end of the month. The situation could also undermine Blair's own position, as calls for Blair to leave in light of other problems in the government much sooner than planned could grow.
Prescott has been further placed in hot water when it was discovered that not only did he meet with Anschutz in summer of 2005, but in six other previous occasions as well. However, the deputy prime minister vehemently denied that he abused his power to control decisions regarding the casino bid.
"I wasn't involved in it, didn't even know about it until I read it in the press and totally reject any idea that I expressed any pressure whatsoever," Prescott told BBC Radio.
The decision on where to establish a super casino is in the hands of an advisory panel with the Millennium Dome as one of the top contenders.
The deputy prime minister has been known for a few other untoward incidences, such as punching a member of the public who threw an egg at him at the 2001 election rally, and earlier this year, admitting to an extra marital affair with his diary secretary who is 24 years his junior. The disclosure of the latter had cost Prescott his governmental responsibilities.
Asked whether he had any plans of resigning, he said: "I'm staying". Many labor lawmakers are afraid that the string of controversies might not only ruining the name of Prescott, but the government as a whole as well.